The city issued a statement Thursday that the work is being done earlier than the city had originally planned because the Maine Department of Transportation informed Rockland that the state-funded project is required to be completed by Oct. 15. The city had planned on waiting until later in the fall to do the work to reduce the disruption to Main Street businesses during the busier September and October tourist season.

“In order to ensure work is completed by this deadline, and to avoid disrupting the Columbus Day holiday as well as the cruise ship visits to Rockland scheduled for late September and early October, we determined that resuming the work on Sept. 10 would be the most advantageous time to complete the work and then move off Main Street with as little disruption as possible,” the city stated.

Work is expected to be completed by Sept. 27. The work includes installation of a new crosswalk at the east end of Lindsey Street, a new crosswalk on Main Street by Lindsey Street, repair work to the sidewalk in front of the Rockland Cafe, relocation of two street lights and fire hydrant on the east side of Main Street between Lindsey and Summer streets, and repairs to any work done during the spring and late June that was not satisfactorily done.

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The city states that only one lane will be closed at a time during the work.